Russia warns Turkey, NATO against military action

Syrian army on second highest alert after downing of aircraft

TEL AVIV – Russia has sent a backdoor warning to Turkey and NATO that Moscow will not tolerate any military action against Syria in response to the downing of a Turkish aircraft on Friday, according to a Syrian government source.

The source told WND the Syrian military is on its second-highest alert as Turkey announced yesterday it will discuss the downing of one of its military jets by Syria with NATO officials at a special meeting on Tuesday.

As a NATO member, Turkey could ask the international alliance to respond against Syria.

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Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said in a Twitter message today he would invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which calls for consultations when a fellow member is attacked.

Davutoglu said on state television the downed plane had been clearly marked as Turkish. He said he didn't believe Syria's earlier statement it had not known the plane, which was shot over international waters, belonged to Turkey.

He further declared Ankara would react "decisively" in its response to the shooting of the plane.

"Our perspective is that of peace ... but nobody can throw Turkey's international security into risk or test Turkey's capacity," Davutoglu said, adding that while Turkey's response will be "in line with international law," it would be "decisive."